Honolulu, HI (June 24, 2018) — The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) is sponsoring “Caring for Our Homeless Keiki: Some Things to Consider” this coming Tuesday, June 26 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Makiki Christian Church (829 Pensacola St.).

The focus of the forum, co-sponsored by Friends of Sharon Moriwaki, is to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Hawaii’s homeless youth. McKinley High School teacher Laverne Moore will moderate the forum.

James Koshiba—public policy researcher, consultant and co-founder of Hui Aloha—will be joined on the forum panel by a formerly houseless youth and an educator with experience working with houseless students. Koshiba spent the past three years studying homelessness primarily by getting to know people on the street. His journey began with a week-long stay in the Kakaako homeless camp in the Summer of 2015. Since then, he has built friendships with people experiencing homelessness across Oahu—from the Waianae Boat Harbor to Mother Waldron Park and Waimanalo.

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HSTA Recommends Democrat Sharon Moriwaki For State Senate District #12

News Release from HSTA, June 27, 2018

Honolulu, HI (June 27, 2018) — This past week, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 12 Sharon Moriwaki received the recommendation of the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA), which represents 13,600 of Hawaii’s teachers. President of HSTA, Corey Rosenlee, shared, “HSTA Board of Directors is recommending the candidacy of Sharon Moriwaki to its members in the 2018 election. Our members look forward to you being a strong advocate for teachers, students, and public education.”

Long-time public servant and founder of Kakaako United, Moriwaki shared, “I’m honored to receive HSTA’s recommendation. Public education and our teachers are at the forefront of nurturing our youth so they can compete in our global community and economy.” Moriwaki continued, “As state senator, I will bring the community together to address problems and solutions that are not being represented in the senate: education and teacher issues and problems, housing for our residents, supporting kupuna in their homes as they age, and reducing crime and drug-related and homeless-related crimes in our neighborhoods.”

If elected, Moriwaki will focus all of her energy on serving her constituents and the state as she recently retired last April from the Public Policy Center at UH’s College of Social Sciences. She brings extensive experience to the office, having spent her entire career working on public policy, human resource development and community advocacy.

In 1986, Moriwaki was chosen by then-Governor John Waihee to be part of his first cabinet as Labor Department Deputy Director. Four years later, Waihee appointed her as his Director of Human Resources, where she instituted major personnel system reforms. Her subsequent leadership included serving as Hawaii State Judiciary’s Administrative Director of the Courts and as UH Assistant Vice President.

“I believe I can do more for the communities within my district,” Moriwaki said. “It’s time for us to start caring for each other, and it’s time for our elected officials to truly represent us.”

Honolulu, HI (June 29, 2018) — The Sierra Club of Hawai‘i has endorsed Sharon Moriwaki as the Democratic candidate for State Senate District 12. Moriwaki, founder and president of Kakaako United, is a former Waihee administration cabinet head, who during her 16 years at the University of Hawaii co-chaired the Hawaii Energy Policy Forum that successfully advanced Hawaii’s energy self-sufficiency goal.

“The Sierra Club’s endorsement means a lot to our 20,000 Hawai'i members and supporters, and to the general public as well,” said Steven Lee Montgomery, Ph.D., Oahu Group Political Committee Chair, Sierra Club of Hawai`i Chapter. “Our endorsement sends voters a message of your strong support for the environment and your proven track record in conservation issues.”

Moriwaki will bring her environmentally-conscious experience to the office. As president of Kakaako United, she has worked hard to improve the quality of life for area residents and fights for sewers that work, open space, parks, canopy trees, and environmental sustainability throughout her district.

“I am pleased and honored to have the Sierra Club of Hawai‘i believing in the value of our cause—a voice for the people on behalf of the people,” Moriwaki said. “We must take care of Hawaii’s environment for our youth and future generations to come.”